Tie-plate



(No Model.)

D. SERVIS.

TIE PLATE. No.*590,689. Patented Sept. 28, 1897.

UNITE STATES DAVID SERVIS, OF ITI-IACA, NEW YORK.

TIE-PLATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 590,689, datedSeptember 28, 1897. Application filed December 23, 1836. Serial No;616,714. (No model.)

To (1% whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID SERVIS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Ithaca,Tom pkins county, and State of New York, haveinvented a certain new and Improved Tie-Plate for Railway-Rails, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to tie-plates for railway-rails. 4

The object is to provide a tie-plate of such construction that the edgesof the plate which extend parallel with the grain of the wood of the tiewill engage the tie in such inanneras to effect a secure and thoroughlyreliable union between the plate and the tie; furthermore, to provide atie-plate in which any tendency thereof to rock, spring up, or move inthe ties in any manner except to settle therein will be effectuallyovercome; f urthermore, to provide a tie-plate combining the abovecharacteristics which will be of great simplicity of construction, highefficiency and durability in use, and cheap both of production and ofapplication.

Generally stated, my invention contemplates the employment of aflangeless tie- 'platethat is to say, a plate devoid of flangesextending at right angles to its rail-supporting surface. WVhere aplate-is employed having flanges extending at right angles to itssupporting-surface,the working of the flanges up and down in the tieunder the wave motion imparted to the rail by the movement of the cargradually enlarges the openings or incisions in the tie in which theseflanges rest, causing the plate to have a loose bearing, thereby alsoforming large recesses, in which water, sand, and mud will settle,causing the rapid decay of the tie, and as a consequence shortening theduration of its usefulness.

In a tie-plate characterized by my invention thoseparts of the platewhich will in use,

generally stated, constitute the flanges are so disposed with relationto the rail-supporting surface of the plate that the passage of the carsover the rail will tend to cause these portions firmly to embedthemselves in the tie in such manner as effectually to overcome anytendency to lift as the trucks of the car pass from one plate to thenext succeeding plate. 1

Specifically stated, my invention consists of a tie-plate having a fiator substantially fiat rail-bearing surface and curved portions on eachside of the rail-bearing surface to engage with the tie, the plate beingof such thickness that the weight of the passing train will cause theedges of the plate to sink into the tie at an angle to the dead-weightline, so

that when seated these two edges constitute a dovetail union with thetie.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification andin which like numerals indicate corresponding parts, I have illustrateda preferred embodiment of my in- Vention, together with a modified formthereof, and in which- Figure 1 is a View in sectional elevation,displaying the tie-plate in position upon a tie before it is set inposition by. the rail. Fig. 2 is a similar View showing it in setposition. Fig. 3 is a perspective detail view of the plate. Fig. 4 is asimilar view of a modified form of plate. a

Referring to the'drawings, l designates the rail, and 2 the tie, and asthese parts may be of any preferred construction a detailed descriptionof them is deemed unnecessary.

The tie-plate 3, which constitutes the gist of this invention, isconstructed of a suitable .m etal, preferably of steel, and of athickness that will readily yield to weight without danger of fractureor breakage, and of any suitable dimensions required. This plate isprovided with a fiat rail-bearing portion 4., as shown in Fig. 3, andwith curved side portions 5, the edges of these curved portions being bypreference in alinement with the under side of the rail-bearing portion4, although, if preferred, they may extend below this portion, suitablespike-openings being furnished by which to secure the plate in placeupon the tie. Instead of having the plate provided with double-curvedside portions, as shown in Fig. 3, the plate may be bow-shaped or concavo-con veX, substantially as shown in Fig. 4.

In assembling the platewith relation to the tie the plate is placed uponthe tie with the rail-supporting portion 4 and the edges of the curvedportions 5 resting upon the ties. The spikes which serve to hold therail in position upon the tie are then driven to their seats, and inseating force the curved portions 5 laterally and diagonally into thewood of the tie, as shown in Fig. 2, thereby establishing a close,intimate, and thoroughly effective union between the plate and the tie.It will be seen that the continual passage of trains over the rails willserve to embed the flanges or edges of the plate at each passage morefirmly into the tie, and as the flanges or edges are laterally embeddedin the tie any tendency to lift on the part of the tie, should the spikework loose, will be effectually counteracted, while the opening betweenthe walls of the recesses in which these flanges are embedded will bytheir close and intimate contact therewith effectually exclude theentrance of dust or moisture, such moisture, should any enter, servingto cause the tie more firmly to grasp the plate by reason of theconsequent swelling of the wood.

lVhile the edges of my tie-plate may be sharpened, this is not essentialin all cases.

Having thus fully described myinvention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. A tie-plate having a flat rail-bearing surface provided withspike-openings and curved side portions adapted to be driven laterallyinto the tie in the act of seating the rail, as described.

2. A tie-plate having a flat or substantially fiat rail-bearing portion,and curved portions on each side of the rail-bearing surface, to engagewith the tie, the plate being of such thickness that the weight of apassing train or the seating of a rail will causelhe edges of the plateto sink into the tie, at an angle to the dead-weight line, so that whenseated these two edges will constitute a dovetail union with the tie, asdescribed.

3. A tie-plate of resilient material and uniform thickness provided withunobstructed ends and whose sides, as embedded in the material of thetie are at substantially obtuse angles to the rail-bearing portion ofthe tie-plate.

4:. A resilient curved tie-plate whose edges are adapted to seatthemselves at an obtuse angle to the rail-bearing portion of thetieplate, when driven into the tie.

5. A resilient tie-plate, the material of which is of substantiallyuniform thickness, having unobstructed ends and curved longitudinally, acentral rail-bearing portion and curved sides, the longitudinal edgessharpened so as to readily enter the tie.

6. A resilient tie-plate of uniform thickness, having unobstructed endsand a curved portion between the rail-bearing portion and each edge saidedges adapted to be embedded into the tie in the act of seating therail.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of thesubscribing witnesses.

DAVID SERVIS.

\V itnesses:

F. B. IInNDRnsoN, J. H. MITCHELL.

